Cedar Down Farm is hiring!
Join our small, dedicated team for the 2024 growing season. Primarily a position for field worker, with the possibility of wash/pack support depending on experience, skills and interest.
Cedar Down Farm grows diverse, certified organic vegetables for Community Supported Agriculture with a focus on building relationships and providing nourishment to our community. In our 14th year of production, we provide our 200-ish members with veggies nearly year-round from the field and our 4 hoophouses, growing for spring, summer and winter shares. We also grow vegetables for a few small-scale wholesale accounts.
Our small team of farmers works collaboratively to create a meaningful and enjoyable working life with the goals of cultivating equity for all farm staff and producing high quality vegetables for our community. Our work is diverse throughout the season and during the week allowing for experience in many aspects of organic veggie farming.
Some of the highlights:
- Primary focus is on working in the field to plant, weed, tend and harvest veggies for weekly CSA share delivery. This includes:
- Seeding for transplants in the greenhouse
- Planting in the field on our water wheel transplanter
- Weed management – primarily hoeing with some other weed management techniques including possibility for tractor cultivation if interested.
- Crop care including row cover management, moving and set up of irrigation and other field responsibilities.
- Planting and care for hoop-house crops including planting prep and bed turn over and weekly trellis and pruning of cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.
- Weekly harvest for CSA and other vegetable orders as well as regular harvest of fruiting crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant and zucchini) with a focus on efficiency, speed and a keen eye for quality.
- Possibility to work in the wash/pack house prepping vegetables for weekly CSA deliveries and other order packing.
- Possibility for customer service at CSA pickups.
You will be happy here if you enjoy:
- Working outdoors in any weather
- Somewhat strenuous manual labour – requires the enthusiasm and fortitude to be able to keep at this work with consistency, focus and good humour.
- Early mornings (though we don’t work late)
- A diverse and fast paced work day.
- Having your hands in the soil, pulling veggies from the ground, lots of repetitive prep of beautiful veggies!
- Working in a small team that is often together but able to work effectively independently.
- It is a huge asset if you love food, have experience or keen interest in sustainable agriculture and are interested in food and community relationships.
- Also, great if you happen to enjoy children – there are at least two that are always around.
Some requirements:
- Positive, collaborative attitude, good humour
- Self-motivated and observant but works well in a small team that is often together
- Commitment to effective, empathic and inclusive communication
- Commitment to good relationships and good food! Is keen to keep up the farm’s high standards for quality and a positive work environment.
- Past experience working in organic vegetable agriculture is a very strong asset. But willingness to learn is also very important.
- Past experience in some manual labour required. Comfort working with tools including small power tools is an asset.
Cedar Down Farm is a living wage certified employer. We meet the current living wage standard for all employees following the Grey County rate of $22.75 for 2024 through a mixture of cash wage and room and board provided. We are dedicated to providing a safe, meaningful and enjoyable work experience and place great importance on equity – as managers and owners we are dedicated to being open to feedback and constant learning. Our aim is to foster a collaborative and open team experience.
All farm staff have full access to produce grown at the farm in addition to their cash wage.
Accommodation is provided in a large, fully equipped trailer with access to all farm spaces.
Position begins April 29 and runs to the end of October. Weekly schedule is 43 hours per week with 1.25 hours provided daily for lunch and one 15 minute break. 5 days of paid vacation time included.
Cedar Down strives to create an equitable and inclusive work and living space. Applicants from members of BIPOC & LGBTQ+ communities are welcomed.
Only Canadian citizens/permanent residents or those with legal Canadian work permits will be considered.
Please send your resume and cover letter detailing your interest in this position and why you would be a good fit to [email protected].
